Electrode holder



Aug. 6, 1929.

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Oct. 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: wmvmsm- Eeden'clf DZ 50 wers,

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Aug. 6, 1929. F. M. BOWERS ELECTRODE HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1927 5 MX S 3 .W m w V m w L M x.mwm w-w m a w x PGNPN v Q mm f NW I E MJQNM g- 1929. F. M. BOWERS ,7 3,760

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Oct. 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet FIG; ;1

INVENTOR:

I ,{ZLATTORNEX Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE".

FREDERICK M. IBOWERS, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

" nnnornonn EoLnEn.

Application filed October 17, 1927. Serial No. 226,634.

This invention relates to clamping and holding means and more particularly to a device of this character for holding electricwelding electrodes.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved electrode holder which will positively grasp and hold an electrode; to provide means for conducting-the welding cur-' rent to and through the electrode without loss or heating and to provide improved means for permitting the electrode to be inserted and for releasing it from the holder.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter de" scribed'and claimed-and shown in the ac-.

.companying drawings, infwhich Fig1'1re 1 is a plan vieweof'a device incor- -porating the invention.

, Figure 2 is a side'view of the illustration shown in Figure 1. I t v Figure 3 is'a section through the device, some parts shownlin full.

Figure 4is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, some parts shown-in full.

Figure 5 illustrates a form of trigger arrangement, and its relation to some of the,

other elements of the combination and Figure 6 is a section through the line 6-6 of Figure 1 and a view looking toward the 30 handle from the clamping end of the device. Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the gripping jaws of a modified form of electrode holder, and

Figure 8 is a cross-section therethrough taken on line 88 on Figure 7.

' Considering Figures 1 to 6 simultaneously,

similar designations referring to similarparts, numeral". represents a removable handle, made of fibre, bakelite, or other suitable insulating material. frictionally mounted on collar 8. The'handle is preferably reduced at the conductor receiving end, to snugly accommodate conductor 24' leading to terminal 12.

One end of each of a pair of oppositely faced spring jaws 11 is secured to terminal 12. The jaws are bent adjacent their free ends, as shown at 14. and the ends. beyond the bend, form parallel normally contacting parts provided with grooves 15 adapted to grasp and hold an electrode. The jaws should be sufiie cientlv stifi to exert material pressure upon the electrode thereby insuringa firm grasp of the electrode and perfect electrical contact. To insure this firm grip of the jaws without handle 19.

making them needlessly, heavy, I confine them approximately midway of their length by collar 8 secured to handle 7 which prevents any yielding in its rear and exerts a pressure tending to reinforce the pressure of the springs and hold the jaws more firmly in contact. The aws preferably taper slightly from bend 14 to the point at which the collar isattached for convenience in positioning 'thecollar. An insulating guard 9 of materially larger diameter than handle 7 is preferably disposed between the handle and collar 8. This serves to protect the operator from heat radiating from the jaws and permits the holder to be rested upon a deck or other surface-without danger of making an electrical contact. y

In the preferred construction-the gripping ends of the jaws are so firmly held in contact that mechanical means for forcing them apart are required. For this purpose I provide the jaws with interior and opposite arcuate grooves 11 and provide a'separating or prying rod 21,extending between the jaws, the heel ehd of which is pivotally mounted upon an eccentric pin 22 extending between two disks 18 which are fixed to a shaft '17 rotatably mounted injaws 11. A trigger 19, also fixed to shaft 17, extends through a notch 20 in handle 7 and is'provided with an insulated The free end of rod 21 prefer-. ably carries a ball 23 seated between grooves 11 and of a diameter sufficient, when the ball is forced forwardly in the groove to press the jaws apart sufficiently to permit them to freely receive an electrode. Actuation of the trigger in one direction forces the jaws apart and actuation in the other direction permits them to close. The trigger is so formed that after it is acuated to open the jaws, the jaws will be held in open position its connections thereover with shaft 17 exerably formed integral with jaw pieces 27,

tending into an aperture in the jaw, placing the other jaw over the parts thus far assembled and riveting or otherwise securing the jaws to terminal 12, drawing the conductor terminal, with the jaws, disks etc., back into the handle, slipping guard 9 over the hub, sliding collar 8 into position with its hub within handle 7 and securing the handle to the hub by means of insulating screw 10.

This construction provides for a firm grip of the jaws upon the electrode; a continuous path for the electric current without loss by reason of moving parts or oints; an insulating handle having a minimum' of contact with current carrying parts and providing a maximum circulation of air between'the handle and the, current carrying parts; means, insulated from the remaining part, for releasing the electrode from the jaws, thus giving the operator further security against electrical shocks, and means whereby the holder may be rested upon adeck or other support wlthout danger of making an electric circuit therethrough.

Figures 7 and 8 showia form having replaceable jaw pieces in which main jaws 11 are cut away at 26 to provide an offset portion for accommodating jawpieces 27 which the edges of jawsl'l and by rivets 29 prefand extending through suitable apertures in jaws 11; the ends of rivets 29 being peened over in the usual manner. J aw pieces 27 are provided with notches 15 aligning in pairs which are adapted'to grip electrodes of vari'-.

ous sizes When the corners of notches 15 or other parts of the jaw pieces become worn or defective, the heads ofrivets 29 may be cut off and new jaw pieces riveted'in place, thus lengthening the life of the electrode holder.

It will be understood that the various ele-' ments of the combination may be modified and altered, and that the fundamentals disclosed may be applied and utilized in a plurality of arrangements. I, therefore, do not limit myself to the precise features of construction illustrated and described, but consider myself at liberty to use any combination coming within the scope of the appended erative'of the holder from current adapted to be supplied to the jaws. the means including a trigger for operating tlleirod to slide opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and normally in contact at the other end; a

conductor terminal secured between the spaced ends of the jaws; a prying rod disposed between and adapted to open the jaws, and means for actuating the prying rod.

3. An electrode holder including a pair of opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and normally in contact at the other end; a

conductor terminal secured between the spaced ends of the jaws; a prying rod disposed between and adapted to open the jaws; means for actuating the prying rod, and a tubular insulating handle enclosing the fixedend of the jaws, the conductor terminal and operating means forthe-prying rod.

4. An electrode holder including a pair of opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and normally in contact at the other end; a

conductor terminal secured between the *spaced ends of the jaws; a shaft extending between the spaced ends of the jaws; a pair of disks fixed to the shaft; an eccentric pin between the disks; a prying rod having one end pivotally connected with the pin and having its free end formed to wedge the contacting ends of the jaws apart, and an insulated trigger fixed to. and adapted to rotate the shaft. I

5. An electrode holder including a pair of opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and normally in contact at the other end} a conductor. terminal secured between the spaced ends of the aws a shaft extending between the spaced ends of the jaws; a pair of disks fixe'd to the shaft; an eccentric pin between the disks; a prying rod having one end pivotally connected with the pin and having its free end formed to wedge the contacting ends of the jaws apart, and a tubular insulating handle enclosingthe fixed end of the jaws, the conductor terminal and the disks.

6. An electrode holder including a pair of opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and adapted to grasp an electrode at the other end, the jaws being provided with opposed grooves adjacent their free ends; a conductor terminal secured between the spaced ends of the jaws; a prying rod disposed between the jaws and provided with a spherical member normally resting between the grooves and adapted, when the prying rod is actuated, to force the free ends of the jaws apart, and means for actuating the prying rod.

7. An electrode holder includinga pair of opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and adapted to grasp an electrode at the other in contact with the end of end; a conductor terminal secured between the spaced ends'of the jaws, and a collar em bracing the jaws, disposed between their fixed and free ends, and adapted to press the free ends into engagement.

8. An electrode holder including a pair of opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and adapted to grasp an electrode at the other end; a conductor terminal secured between the s aced ends of the jaws, a prying rod dispose between and adapted to open the jaws; eccentric means for actuating the prying rod; a trigger for actuating the eccentric means; an insulating handle on the trigger; an insulating handle enclosing the spaced ends of the jaws, the conductor terminal and the eccentric means, and having a notch through which the trigger handle extends; a collar, having a hub secured within the end of the insulating handle, adapted to press the free ends of the jaws into engagement, and an insulating guard disposed on the hub of the collar and the insulating handle.

9. An electrode holder including a pair of opposed spring jaws spaced apart at one end and adapted to grasp an electrode at the other end, a conductor terminal secured between the spaced ends of the jaws; a shaft extending between the spaced ends of the jaws; a palr of disks fixed to the shaft; an eccentric pin between the disks; a prying rod having one end pivotally'connected to the eccentric pin and having its free end adapted to press the free ends of the jaws apart; a trig er fixed to the shaft; an insulated handle or the trigger; an insulating handle enclosing the spaced ends of the jaws, the conductor terminal and the disks; a collar embracing the jaws, adapted to press their free ends into enga ement, and having a hub secured within the end of the insulating handle, and an insulating guard disposed on the hub between the collar and the insulating handle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK M. BOVVERS. 

